Dogs have a close association with humans providing companionship, security and a source of dietary protein. However, dogs are also potential carriers of zoonotic pathogens. To determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths eggs in faeces of house-hold dogs presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, ninety-eight (98) faecal samples were collected and processed by formol-ether concentration technique and examined for helminths eggs. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths eggs in dogs presented was 22.4% (22/98). The Gastrointestinal helminths eggs observed from the study comprises of Ancylostoma caninum (4.1%), Strongyloides stercoralis (2.0%), Toxocara canis (8.2%) and Dipylidium caninum (8.2%). Higher prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths eggs was observed in male dogs (31.0%) than in female dogs (10.0%). Also, higher prevalence was observed in dogs less than six (6) months of age (23.1%) than in dogs of at least six (6) months (22.2%). The prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths eggs was 26.7% and 23.1% for local and exotic breeds of dogs respectively. Higher prevalence was observed in dogs with diarrhoeic faeces (25.0%) and in dogs non-confined (33.3%). This study has shown the presence of zoonotic gastrointestinal helminths eggs in dogs presented to the VTH ABU, Zaria which is of public health significance. Therefore, clinicians, pet owners, animal handlers and laboratory technicians need to be aware of the risk of contracting an infection in the course of handling dogs or their faecal samples.

Staphylococcal infections and salmonellosis are important food-borne diseases affecting both humans and animals, and the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria to humans through the consumption of animal food products remains a challenge. To determine the occurrence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella in fresh milk and milk products sold in Zaria and environs, Kaduna State, Nigeria, ninety samples were purchased comprising of 49 pasteurized milk, 20 ghee (Clarified butter) and 21 fresh milk samples in Zaria. The Samples were pre-enriched before plating on a suitable selective media. Biochemical and Sugar fermentation tests were used to detect S. aureus and Salmonella isolates; also, antimicrobial susceptibility test was carried out on positive isolates. The overall prevalence of S. aureus and Salmonella spp. in fresh milk and milk products (pasteurized milk and ghee) were 31.1% (28/90) and 6.7% (6/90), respectively. Higher prevalence of S. aureus was found in fresh milk (38.1%) than in ghee (35%) and pasteurized milk (26.5%). Also, a higher prevalence of Salmonella organism was found in fresh milk (9.5%) than in pasteurized milk (6.1%) and ghee (5%). Positive iso­lates of S. aureus showed the highest percentage of antibiotic resistance to oxacillin (100%), then tetracycline (64%) and vancomycin (57.1%), while positive iso­lates of Salmonella showed oxacillin (100%) and vancomycin (100%), followed by tetracycline (33.3%). Most of the isolates displayed resistance to more than three (3) different classes of antimicrobials, indicating multi-drug resistance. Therefore, there is a need for education and public awareness regarding hygienic processing, handling and storage of fresh milk and milk products; thus, the abuse and indiscriminate use of antibiotics in animals should be discouraged.

Cryptosporidium spp. and helminths are responsible for diarrhoal illness in humans and many other animals. The transmission routes of these parasites suggest a risk for human infection through contaminated foods. In order to determine the occurrence of Cryptosporidium oocysts and helminth ova on dried crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) sold in Zaria and Kaduna Central market, Kaduna State, 100 crayfish samples were examined using the modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique for Cryptosporidium oocyst and the flotation technique for helminth ova. The measurements of the oocysts from the positive samples were estimated by using a calibrated microscope eyepiece. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium oocysts in dried crayfish was 20.0 % while the location-based prevalence was 43.3 %, 5.0 %, and 12.0 % for Sabo, Samaru and Kaduna central market, respectively. Micrometry revealed that the oocysts size ranged from 3.68 µm to 4.7 µm. Also, the prevalence of helminth ova in dried crayfish was 19 %, while the specific prevalence based on location showed a higher prevalence in Sabo (30.0 %) than in Kaduna central market (18.0 %) and Samaru (5.0 %). The helminth eggs recovered from this study included: Toxocara spp. (4.0 %), Ascaris spp. (7.0 %), Trichuris spp. (4.0 %), Schistosoma spp. (2.0 %), Ancylostoma spp. (1.0 %), and Capillaria spp. (1.0 %). The analysis of the questionnaires revealed that 71 (71.0 %) of the respondents ate uncooked cray-fish and 44.0 % used their bare hands to handle the cray-fish. There was no statistically significant association (P > 0.05) between the prevalence of Cryptosporidium oocysts or helminth ova and the locations sampled. This study has shown that dried crayfish obtained from markets within the study area were contaminated with parasite ova and oocysts, thus public enlightenment on the dangers of the consumption of raw or undercooked dried crayfish should be well publicized.

Aquatic environments are the major reservoirs of Salmonella and fishery products have been recognized as major carrier of food-borne pathogens. To determine the prevalence of Salmonella in fish, 112 fresh and smoke-dried fish samples were pre-enriched and enriched with buffered peptone water and selenite broth respectively, before plating on Desoxycholate Citrate Agar. Of the 112 samples, 75% (84/112) were contaminated with non-lactose fermenters. Upon subjecting them to biochemical tests, 13.1% (11/84) of the Salmonella suspects showed reactions consistent with that of Salmonella species, Proteus 65.5% (55/84) and Citrobacter 21.4% (18/84) species. The total prevalence of Salmonella out of the 112 fish sampled was 9.8% (11/112). Salmonella species was slightly higher in the fiber tank farm 12.9% (95% CI: 5.134-28.852) than in the earthen pond 12.1% (95% CI: 4.816-27.326) but this association was not significant (Fishers exact test=1.0). Prevalence was higher in fresh fish 12.5% (95% CI: 6.472-22.775) compared to smoke-dried fish 6.25% (95% CI: 2.148-16.835), though this association was not statistically significant (Fishers exact test= 0.347). Among the dried fish, the prevalence was higher 9.5% (95% CI: 0.017-0.289) in the weight range 30-49.9g compared to the smallest weight range of 10-29.9g with prevalence of 4.0% (95% CI: 0.002-0.195). For the fresh fish, the prevalence was higher 14.04% (95% CI: 7.287-25.324) in shorter length fish of 20-39cm than the lengthier ones of 40-49cm with 0.0% (95% CI: 0.000-35.433) prevalence. This study has demonstrated the presence of Salmonella species in fresh and smoke-dried fish in parts of Kaduna metropolis, Kaduna State, Nigeria. This is of public health significance and poses a potential risk especially among immunocompromised consumers. Keywords: Biochemical test, Earthen pond, Fresh fish, Fiber tank, Prevalence, Salmonella, Smoke-dried fish

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